Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in East, West and Central London & Surrey (The NEXT Chapter).

Week 267 Saturday 27^th July until Friday 2^ndAugust 2019.

July was LGBT pride month around the world.  I have only been to Pride London a couple of time during the early 90s.  Over the years there have been times I have wanted to take part but just didn’t feel that “I” would fit in, plus going on my own wouldn’t be much fun.

 “I slipped”…

Romford in Essex is a few miles away from where I live; it’s a place I only visit for shopping. Last Saturday when I arrived with a friend our first thought was “what’s happened here?” This was because all the emergency services were lined up.  Living in London today, when you see a couple of police cars, an ambulance and a fire engine that’s normally not a good sign.  I relaxed when I noticed that one of the paramedics had rainbow epaulettes and a couple of women walked past with paint smears across their cheeks in rainbow colours.  The second Romford Pride was taking place.

 “Londons finest, standing around”.

These days there are pride events all over, it’s not just the big cities like London, New York that people gather and celebrate who they are!  And their history.  A couple of days before it was the hottest day in recorded history, this particular Saturday could have been a contender for the wettest.  The bad weather didn’t stop the large group of people wrapped in rainbow flags and banners from enjoying themselves, meeting friends and making new ones while enjoying live entertainment from a small stage.

 “Even the Fire engine was full of Pride”.

I have kept myself away from the LGBT community for a long time.  Because I felt awkward, partly about myself and the belief that I didn’t fit in.  Plus, my interactions with other trans people in the early 90s never resulted in much.  They were very nice, but I felt that they flounced around wanting to just discuss “there journey”, which is of course important.  But I (and I only speak for myself) want to get on with my life and not keep thinking about the past. This has meant I have deliberately kept away from the very people who might understand me better than any other.

It’s only now, that I am trying to reach out.  Recently I have started to notice more and more trans people out and about.  So far “first contact” has not been made, but if it does I am ready to smile.  Before I’d have done everything not to have made eye contact and be seen by them.

 “Really nice to see these all around”.

Back in Romford!  I wasn’t at the pride event for long, if I hadn’t been in the area to do other things I think i would have stayed.  I left with a handful of leaflets, smiled at happy revellers and got bumped into by a woman dancing like Kate Bush in the Wuthering Heights video (still a damn good song and a wonderful video).  She was very apologetic; however I would have preferred a kiss!  In September I am planning on going to a LGBT group, who knows I might make a few friends which will help me feel a little more at ease with myself.  One thing I deffo won’t be doing is flounce around and discuss “my journey”, that’s so early 1990s, darling!

 “See you next year”

And Now For Something Completely Different……

I’ve talked about my love of going to the local recycling dump before.  Whenever I visit I love to stop and look at all the huge machine which wouldn’t look out of place in an episode of “Thunderbirds” (I’m talking about the original 1965-66 series, of course).

 “Is MOZ growing an alien seed pod”.

Last weekend I helped my friend visit the tip.  Looking over the edge of the skip for electrical goods all i could see were fans.  I mentioned earlier last week we had the hottest day in recorded history; personally Venus would have been a more comfortable than London.  It would appear that locally a lot of people discovered that there old fans were not working and throw them away.

 “Lovely meeting Dinsdale again.  Must do this again soon”.

I know that people say if only “something” could talk.  The way technology is going in the near future fans probably will talk as well as switching themselves on and off.  Just think of the stories and/or information that might be downloadable in a few years’ time from a graveyard of old fans.  Looking down at the unwanted fans, did make me feel sad.  There really must be a better way of getting rid of items like this.  We’ll carry that conversation over to another week!

  “Even in the rain, an open air cinema is exciting”.

And Finally……

Got squirted as a friend opened a grapefruit. I looked up and said, “if I get pregnant, then I know who to blame”.

 “Near the open air cinema”.

Walking into the kitchen holding a paperback I proudly stated, “I’ve read an entire paragraph, that’s more than I have done in years”.  My friend looking confused said, “do you mean chapter?”.  (Just to clarify all my reading these days involves ebooks. It’s nice to be walking round with an actual paperback).

 “What a pretty girl”.

Speaking to a man on a bad phone line, I asked his partners last name.  I thought he said Slapper, which made me smile like a school kid.  I’m so glad I didn’t say anything, because when he repeated what he said the name was nothing like what I heard.  Phew, just got away with that!

 “Sri Lanka, here i come”.

NEXT WEEK…. “The Lucas Sisters Tour” continues from Sri Lanka.  We’re visiting family and of course seeing the sites.  I’ll meet you beside the pool with a drink for a spot skinny dipping.

My Mid Life Crisis Conts……

This week I have mainly been watching:  

“Another Life”, (S1, ep 4 to ep 10).  “Click”, (ep 1003, TX: 27/07/19).  “DC: Swamp Thing”, (S1, ep 9).  “Dexter”, (S1, ep 2 to ep 10).  “Final Space”, (S2, ep 6).  “Focus: The Silicon Valley Space Race (BBC News)”, (TX: 22/07/19).  “From Dusk Till Dawn”, (1996).  “From Dusk Till Dawn (TV Series)”, (S1, ep 1 to ep 3).  “Game Face”, (S2, ep 3). “How To Train Your Dragon 2”, (2014).  “Inside The Factory”, (S5, ep 1, TX: 30/07/19).  “James May On The Moon”, (TX: 21/06/2009).  “Krypton”, (S2, ep 7 & ep 8).  “Moonshot (BBC Cymru / Wales)”, (TX: 16/07/19).  “NASA Triumphs And Tragedy”, (ep 1, “One Small Step”, TX:24/06/2009)(ep 2, “One Giant Leap”, TX: 01/07/2009).  “Revolutions: Ideas That Changed The World”, (S1, ep 2, TX: 30/07/19).  “Stacey Dooley: Face To Face With The Bounty Hunters”, (TX: 31/07/19).  “Surviving Sid”, (2008).  “Terry Nation Army”, (S1, ep 5, TX: 29/07/19).  “The Chase”, (S3, ep 19, TX: 27/01/11).  “The Crystal Maze: Celebrity Crystal Maze”, (S6, ep 6, TX: 26/07/19).  “The Misadventures Of Romesh Ranganathan”, (S2, ep 1, TX: 28/07/19).  “The Rook”, (S1, ep 1).   “Typewriter”, (S1, ep 5).  “IZombie”, (S5, ep 12).   

This week I have mainly been listening to:  

“30 Animals That Made Us Smarter (BBC World Service)”, (S1, ep 19, 29/07/19).  “Buffy Speak”, (ep 12, 05/06/16).  “Daddy Look At Me”, (ep 9, 01/08/19).  “Griefcast”, (ep 90, 24/07/19).  “Iain Lee (Bonus)”, (2 x 26/07, 29/07, 30/07/19).  “Iain Lee (Highlights)”, (26/07, 29/07, 30/07, 31/07/19).  “LBC Podcast: Mystery Hour”, (30/07, 31/07/19).  “LBC Podcast: Nick Abbot (Whole Show)”, (27/07, 02/08/19).  “Like Minded Friends”, (23/05/19).  “SpaceBoffinsPodcast:TheNakedScientist”,(11/02/19)(16/01/19)(13/12/18)(12/11/18)(10/10/18)(11/09/18)(10/08/18)(10/07/18)(10/06/18)(11/05/18)(10/04/18)(10/02/13)(10/01/13)(10/09/12)(10/12/12).  “Strange Times”, (ep 311, 31/07/19).  “The All New Angelos And Barry Podcast”, (01/08/19).  “The Nick Abbot Habit”, (29/07/19).  “The Rabbit Hole”, (ep 88, 01/08/19).  “Morrissey”,  “Madness”, “Adam And The Ants”,  “Lana Del Rey”,  “Sophie B Hawkins”,  “The KLF”,  “The Flaming Lips”,  “The Vaccines”,  “James”, “The Dandy Warhols”.